Box-making machine.



Patented Aug. i, i899.Y C. CRAWFRD 8|. H. w. BULLARD. l n

Box MAKING MACHINE.

(Application med Nav. 17, 1897.1 (No Modem" 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Y n Y Patented Aug. I, i899. C. CRAWFORD & H. W. BULLARD.

BOX MAKING MACl-HNE.

(Application Sled Nov. 17, 1S97J 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N'o Model.)

No. 629,775. y Patenten Aug. l, |899. c. cnAwFunn & H. w. uLLAnn.

BOX `I'IIAKINJI MACHINE.

(Application mea Nav. 17, 1897.)

4 Sheets-#Sheet 3.

(NQ Model.)

r ohms ravis-s nu. morn l T y Patented Aug. I, |899. CBAWFGRD & H. WsBULLARD.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

I 'l il-".3 (Nfo Modehwf'. f.

(Appiicaton iled Nov. 17, 1897.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

V liga Magnetic 'UNITED P AfrnNreDi-rnce;

CHARLES CRAWFORD, OF CLINTONDALE, AND HENRY WILLIAM BULLAR),y

or 4POUeHKnEPsnr.,lNew YORK, AssIeNoRs TO THE POUGHKEEPSIE FOUNDRY AND naci-HNE OOiirPnNv, or Pouennnursin, Nnw YORK.

Box-MAKING MACH-INE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,775, dated August 1, 1899.

Application filed November 17, 1897. Serial No. 658,777. (No modela) To all whom, it may concern: placing the same on the former in conjunction 5o Be it known that we, CHARLES CRAW- with the fastening-bands, in readiness to be FORD, residing at Clintondale, Ulster county, nailed.

and HENRY WILLIAM BULLARD, residing at Like numeralsindicate like parts in the sev'- 5 Poughkeepsie, Dutchess-county, New York, eral figures. Y v

citizens of the United States, have invented The work-supporting table Sand the cast- 55' certain new and useful Improvements in Boxiron legs or standards l0 constitute the sup- Making Machines, of which the following is a porting-framework of the machine.. Mounted specification, reference being had therein to on said tableis theuppe'r frarnejor stand 11,

1o the accompanying drawings. which is of suitable size and shape to prop- Our invention relates to machinery for the erly support the operating mechanism. This 6o manufacture of;hoxes and baskets, and has standard is formed of uprightsl2 and crossf or its object to improve machines of the type pieces l3,that are assembled and rigidlybolted which employ reciprocating magnetic hamtogether, and when thus organized isintended mers for driving the nails or tacks. to serve as a support for the main shaft, the

- The invention'consists in the improvements vertically-reciprocatin g hammers, theformer 65 of the tack or nail feeding mechanism, the re'- or anvil, and the tack-feedingmcchanism. ciprocating hammer mechanisrmthe support- The main shaft 14 extends longitudinally ing and actuating devices for the former upon and is journaled in suitable bearings at the.

zo which the box or basket is placed while being top of the standard vand is actuated by treadle nailed, the presser-fingermechanism, and in mechanism, which will loe,` Yhereinafter de- 7o other details of construction and arrangement scribed. Mounted on said shaft-at a'point be- Of the apparatus to be hereinafter described tween its bearing ends is aforwardly-projectand pointed out. j ing rocker arm or lever l5, that is connected That our invention may be better underat its forward end to a pendentswing-rod 16,

stood, we have illustrated in the accompanyn whose lower end is likewise pivotally connect 75 ing drawings one form of embodiment thereof, ed to a reciprocating guide plate or gate 17, without intending, however, to limit our inwhich latter isadapted to carry the hammers vention in its usefulness to the exact embodi- 18.*v The gatethus suspended is slidingly supment which we have-shown., 5 E ,ported for vertical reciprocationb7 a pair of In the drawings, Figure 1 showsa front elevertical guidesrods 19, arrangedin'parallelism 8o vation in perspective of a machine'embodyg at either side of the gate, and which are adapting our improvements. Fig. 2 is a rear View ed to pass vertically through the ways 20` in in perspective of theY former and pressen-l the upper cross-bar 2l of the frame situated nger mechanisms, having portions of their directlyabov'e. Vhen the shaftl is rocked parts broken away for the purpose of more to and fro, it operates to raise andV lower by 35 clearlyr illustrating the relationship of the co- `simultanecms t movement said gate `and atacting parts. Fig. 3indicates,in an enlarged tached hammer-bars. l The rocking of said view, a top plan vView of the ,tackffeeding shaft lsis effected by the following means,

4o mechanism, while Fig` et is a horizontal secwhich include afgear-segment 22,-mount'ed on tion thereof, taken on the line X X-of Fig. 3. said shaft, and which 'meshes with a corre- 9o Fig. showsadetail of the tack-feeding mechsponding segment 23,;that` is secured to the anism illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 adjacent end of a rocking lever 24, and which shows in perspective and detached from the is designed to eifect a change of motion beframework of the machine the train of actutween the said lever 24 and the-shaftl4-- -The ating-levers foroperating the former or anvil. lever 24 is fulcrumed by means of ya stud 25, 95 Fig. 7 shows the crossed strips of veneer rethat projects inwardly fromthe uprightflQ of quired inthe manufacture of baskets on our the standard. The rocker-lever thus arranged .v machine, while-Fig. 8 indicates the manner of swings in a vertical plane and serves as a connecting-lever interposed between the treadlerod 26 and the shaft 14. The connecting-rod 26 has its opposite or lower end pivoted to a foot-lever or treadle-bar 27. This treadlebar is pivotally mounted on the supportingbar 28 of the lower frame. Ve employ the treadle as a lifting mechanism to impart a backward movement to the shaft 14, and which is accompanied in said movement by the simultaneous raising of the rocker-arm and connected gate and hammers, the weight of the latter being sufficient ordinarily to return the treadle-bar to its normal position upon the removal of the pressure of the foot of the operator. As an auxiliary means to assist in the quick return of said parts we employ in connection with the treadle-rod 2G a pullspring 29, that is shown as being connected at its lowerend to the treadle-bar at 30 and at its opposite upper end to the bottom of the table. From the combination thus defined it will be seen in what manner the hammers are vertically reciprocated. The shaft 14 also carries, loosely mounted thereon, a differential pulley 30, (shown in Fig. 3,) whose office will behereinafter specified and explained.

The former or anvil 31 is shown as consisting of a metallic shell of any desired shape and-is provided on its inner corners with ears 32, the office of which will be hereinafter pointed out. Said former is shown as being axially mounted upon the projecting end of the shaft 33, which is supported in horizontal position and extends through a sleeve 34, supported on the cross-bar 21, that forms the front bottom part of the upper framework. Said shaft is made to progressively rotate by means of an annular series of teeth 35, form ed on the sleeve 36, which is mounted on said shaft and which is adapted to operate in connection with the teeth 37, formed on the segmental rack 37, which latter is mounted rotatively on the horizontal inwardly-extending stud 38, that projects from the bottom cross-V bar 21. The segmental rack 37 receives its motion and power by reason of its operative connection with the shifting lever 40, that is mechanically joined thereto by means of a rocking shaft 41, mounted horizontally on -said table and arranged adjacent to the stand, 'said lever 40 being within convenient reach of the operator. 'lhe rocking shaft-41 is provided at its opposite end with a lever 42, attached at right angles thereto, which in turn is connected to the segmental rack at 43 by the connecting-rod or back bar 44. The segmental rack is pivotally supported and yieldingly held in normal position by the pullspring 38, one end of which is attached to the table, while the other end is attached at 45 to 4the segmental rack, thus affordinga means forquickly returning said rack to its normal position upon the release of the actuatinglever 40. From the combination thus organized it will be seen that the former or anvil may be revolved or spun about one revolution by the shifting of the lever 40; but it isl necessary to insure that its rotation be in but one direction, and this is accomplished by the employment of a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, which is preferably adapted to the shaft as follows: The sleeve' 36, bearing the annular series of teeth 35 and'mounted on the shaft 33, is provided on its inner p'eripheral walls v46 with ratchet-teeth 47, the faces of which incline forwardly, while the shaft 33, at. t-he point where the sleeve 36 is positioned, is provided with a slot 48, extending radially through said shaft, and in which is slidingly fitted the pawl-piece 49, the ends of which are adapted to engage in operative connection with the teeth of the ratchet to insure the progressive revolving of the sleeve and the shaft upon which it is mounted. To prevent the rotation of the-former in the reverse direction and to properly hold the anvil in position, so that the hammers will strike squarely, a simple means is provided, which consists iu providing on its inner face ratchet-teeth 50, that are brought into engagement with a spring-su pported pawl 51, that projects horizontally from the cross-bar 21, into which it sockets, and which enters into engagement with said ratchet-teeth Whenever the former tends to turn in the opposite direction from that in which it is intended to revolve.

It is important that there should be no slipping of the inner and outer forming-bands (which are formed, preferably, as one continu` ous strip) when placed upon the anvil,and also provision should be made to hold one end of the band during the spinning of the former. Ve obtain the first desired result by the employment of the ears 32 above mentioned,

while the slot 52 serves as a means for receiviug and holding the inserted end of the band during the spinningof the anvil. The depth of the slot is varied so as to form an incline that rises from the end of the slot adjacent to the inner side of the former to the surface-level of the former at the point Where the other end of the slot begins, thereby affording an exit for bandend when it is desired to remove the basket from the former. A

Tack -feedz'ng lmechcmsm-53 represents the nail or tack boX, which is shown as being pivotally supported upon the bars 54, which are in turn supported by the cross-bar 55, attached to the upright piece 12 of thestandardframe. The bottom of the box is provided with a number of slots or grooves 56,'into which the nailsor tacks find their way and where they are supported, points downward, the number of these slots or grooves corresponding with the-number of magnetic hammers or, more properly, with the numbers of Ways or chutes which condnctthe tacks or nails to the hammers. The bottom of the boX is shaped so that the tacks or nails are fed into the slots 57,andto facilitate this, as well as the delivery of the tacks to the channel-ways 58,which lead to the hammers, the box is tipped upon its hinges as the hammer-bars reciprocate. lThis movement of the box may be effected in vari- IOO IIO

ous ways but we have shown in Fig. l an up` right 59, extending upward from the pendent swing-rod 16, and which is provided with a rearwardly-extendin g arm 60, that is provided at its free end with a depending strap 6l. The strap is connected with its opposite end to thevsmaller wheel 62 of the differential pulley 80, (see Fig. 4,) while the larger wheel thereof is connected in turn by a strap 6l to the tack-box 53. It will be understood that whenever the shaft 14 is rocked to reciprocate the hammers, at the same time the tack-box is swung upon the hinges or pivots 63, causing the tacks contained therein to be shaken up and to drop into the grooves 56 and the tacks which are already in the grooves to slide into the channels. There are as many of these channels or ways 58 as there are nails to be driven at one time, and-they are' formed in a block or bar 54 and are each provided with a cap-piece 55?' to prevent the tacks from jumping out. The blocks or hars are supported by the cross-piece 55 in a position to give the tack or nail channels, which comprise two portions, the proper inclination in dierent planes, respectively, to cause the nails to be readily fed by gravity from the nail-box toward the hammers.

At the angle formed by the upper and lower portions of the inclined channel there is arranged a device for causing the tacks or nails -to be fed, one at a time, down the lower and more steeply inclined portion of thechannel at each reciprocation of the hammers. The devices for causing the nails or tacks to be thus fed consist of two small picker-ngers G6 and 67, arranged one in advance of the other and so that their ends or points overlap, and which are arranged to be reciprocated across the channel or way, one, 66, below the Y angle or junction of the respective portions of the channel-'L'. e., in the plane of the lower incline portion-and the other,67, in the plane of the upper portion of the inclined way or channel. By such a disposition of the pickeriingers relatively to each other and the respective planes the tacks or nails held in a vertical position are successively singled out by the engagement of the fingers with the Shanks of the tacks and without interference or impediment caused by the engagement or wedging in of the tipping-head of the tack as it passes from the upper inclined portion of the inclined way tothe lower portion thereof. As the hammers are lowered the fingers are moved synchronously in a direction to bring the upper linger across the slot, and this finger is so disposed relatively to the linger 66 that it crosses the slot or channel as the lower finger moves away from its position across the slot, and in so doing it cuts olf lor separates the nails or tacks` which had been resting against .the finger 6G from the others standing in the channel, so that when the lingers have moved suiiiciently far to carry the lower iinger away from across the slot this lowermost nail or tack in the channel is left free to slide toward the hammer, while the others are retained by the upper finger 67. On the reverse or upward movement of the hammer the iingers are slid 'in the opposite direction, the lower finger 66 taking its position across the channel, so that the entire line of tacks held in the channel or way slides down toward the feeding device, but only the distance occupied by one tack or nail. These tack-feeding devices are carried by a sliding bar 68, which is arranged on the cross-bar 55, situate underneath the lower side of the blocks or bars 54. The slide-bar 68 is connected with the respective fin gers of the feeding device by carryingarms 68a. The slide-bar 68 is moved in one direction-that which causes the finger 67 tc stand across the channel-by a spring 69, and in the opposite direction it is positively moved by some moving part of the machine each time the hammer-bar is reciprocated. Fig. 4 shows the reciprocating hammer-bar as having connected with it a cam-bar 70, which engages with and moves in one direction the slide-bar, and against the action of the spring 69, which returns it. The tack channel blocks are continued beyond the tack-feeding devices 66 and 67 just described, said portions 72 being more sharply inclined downward, by preference, than is the upper portion 54 thereof. The object in giving it a sharper pitch is to allow the tack to drop from the feeding devices to hammer as quickly as possible, so as to be picked up by the hammer in its upward reciprocation. The lower end of the part 72 at the mouth of the slot 58 is provided with an inclined way extending at asuitable angle upward to form a platform 72a for the lodgment of the tack, which is thereby received with its head extending in a'vertical plane and adapted to face against the rear face of the magnetic ham mer-bar.

The part 72 of the tack way or channel is covered throughout a greater or less part of its extent with the cap-piece 73, which is so shaped as to have a vertical front face 74, which latter is disposed in a vertical plane and against which the hammer-bar of magnetic iron .slides as it is reciprocated up and down. There is formed a recess 75 on the lower part of the front face of the cap-piece immediately adjacent to the slot 58 to permit the stem or body of the tack to rest against its upper wall, while the head thereof slides from the rear face'of thehammer-bar to the ends thereof. The cap-piece above referred to, as well as the block or bars in which the channel for the tacks is formed, should-be made ofsome metal .which will not become magnetized, and to such an end we preferto use brass. y .s

Each time the hammer is depressed to drive a tack or 'nail anothertack or nailslides down the-part 72 of the way and rests. against the stop-plate 73 andv with the head adjacent to or in contact with. the rear face of the inagnetic hammer-bar. As the hammer is raised it carries the nail or tack up'V with it untilV it IIO comes into engagement with the Wall of the recess 75 by the attraction which the magnet has for it. The lower face of the magnetic hammer-bar rising above the recess 75 operates to sweep off the tack-head from engagement with the rear face of the hammer-bar. This movement, however, does not operate to disengage the tack from the magnetic hammerbar, but rather causes its head to en gage with and be held against the lower end of the bar, as indicated in Fig. 4. The tack or nail is caused to turn from the position indicated in Fig. 4 in dotted lines at right angles to the ham mer-bar to the position indicated in Fig. 4t in full lines perpendicularly in line with the hammer-bar by reason of the lower end of the hammer-bar moving upward beyond the edge of the cap-plate 73, so that the head of the tack is not only moved from engagement with the rear to the end face of the hammer-bar, but is also turned into line therewith. When theI tacks are held in the latter position, the-sudden dropping of the hammers operates to drive the nails or tacks, as will be understood. It will thus be seen that there is combined with the tack ways or channels and the means for feeding the tacks one ata time, which devices may be of any usual or preferred.construction, a mechanism which delivers the tacks or nails to' the striking- .face of the hammer,with the body of said nail in line with the lnovement of the hammer, and that the mechanism is very simple in its construction and effective in its operation.

In view of the fact that the magnetism of the hammer operates to draw the nail from 'the channel and hold it in place during the forward movement of the hammer it is important that such movement should be capable of being governed by the operator, and therefore the treadle is provided as a means for imparting such forward movement, while the downstroke, which should be as rapid as possible, is imparted by gravity.

It will be understood that the proportions of certain of the parts of the apparatus as shown in the drawings-the tackways and their associated parts, for instance-are out of proportion to the other parts of the apparatus; but this is done for the better illustration of the invention, Vas in practice these parts will be of relatively small size.

We will now proceed to describe the presseriinger attachment and its arrangement and method of operating in properly holding the band to the former in position during the fasgerrrod is bent in a suitable manner for the the frame-upright 2l at 82,while the outer free end of the carrying-rod is slidingly mounted within the slotted guide 83,formed in the piece 84. When it is desired to manipulate the said finger-rod, the free end of the carrying-rod is grasped by the operator, and, if moved to the lower depression in said slot, will act to hold the presser-finger rmly down upon the band end required to be held,while if it is moved to its forward limit in said guide the carrying-rod or its block 8Oa is brought into contact with the ejector-rod 85, which latter lits telescopically in and through the bore 86, that eX- tends longitudinally through the shaft 33 and to one'side of the paWl-slot 48, that extends radially therethrough, and which ejector-rod is provided with a head 87, that is adapted to strike the inner face of the basket on the former when driven outwardly by the thrust of the carrying-rod and in that manner remove the basket from the former or anvil, as well as disengaging the inserted end of the band from the slot 52. When the carryingrod is released from the hand of the operator, it drops back until its projected end is arrested by the inner limit of the guide-slot. It will thus be seen that by the arrangement described in the foregoing the former mechanism and the presser-finger attachment can be handled with convenience and rapidity.

Having given a mechanical description of our invention, we will now proceed to describe its operation, which is substantially as follows: The basket is made of two or more strips of wood veneer and a narrow band of like flexible material. (Shownin Fig. 7.) The principal strips for the body of the basket are preferably crossed centrally and secured together with a single tack or nail. The first step in the operation of the machine is to place one end of the liexible band in the groove or slot 52, as shown in Fig. 8, in the corner of the anvil. Then bythe revolving mechanism described one complete revolution of the anvil is made. Then the two strips of veneer which are crossed and secured centrally, which had also in the cutting been scored, so that they will bend easily over the form, are placed on the anvil and held by the hand of the operator to conform to the shape of the anvil. The revolution of the anvil at this time by the hand, while the other hand still holds the flexible band tight, now places the band on the outside of the veneer. The lifting of the treadle now drops the magnetic hammers, which carry, in suspension bythe head, tacks on the lower faces thereof and which by the force of the blow drive the tacks through the outer band, veneer, and inner band and clench them to the inner band by reason of their contact with the metal anvil. A de- IOO IIO

pression of the treadle then will raise the gate and at the saine time the magnetic hammers each in their upward movement will receive a tack or nail from the feeding device, as heretofore described, and by the operation described above each side of the basket is -in turn nailed properly. Vhen the last tacks are to be driven, the end of the band is held in position by the holding-down finger, as shown in Fig. 8, and as soon as the hammers rise from driving the last tacks in the nowcompleted box the continued forward move-- ment of the holding-down lever acts upon the ejector-rod, as described, and removes the box from the anvil.

- VHaving described our invention, what we desire to claim as new and useful is- 1. In a box or basket machine, the combination with the framework, of a vertically-re ciprocatin g gate, a magnetic hammer or hammers carried thereby, and means for guiding said gate and ham mers in a true vertical plane, a rock-shaft mounted in the frame and provided with an arm, a connection between the arm and the gate, a channel or way for the feeding of nails or tacks, in range of the traveling hammer and terminating adjacent to the inner face of the hammer and having a cap -piece of nonmagnetizable metal that serves as a guide for the tacks in feeding the heads thereof to the hammer ends and against which the hammer slides in its travel past the feedway; a treadle, and connections between the treadle and said shaft, whereby theA latter is operated, substantially as' described.

.2. In a box or basket making machine, the

combination with the framework of a vertil cally-reciprocating gate, a magnetic hammer or hammers carried thereby, a rock-shaft mounted in t-he frame and provided with an arm, a connection between the arm and the said gate; a treadle having a spring arranged in a relation of vopposition thereto, and connections between the treadle and shaft, whereby the latter is operated to lift the hammer mechanism when the treadle is depressed, substantially as described. f

3. In a box or basket machine, the combination of a verticallyfreciprocating gate carrying the hammers, a rocking box for containing the tacks or nails, a rock-shaft and connections therewith for operating said hammers, a dilerential pulley mounted loosely on said shaft, and connecting means between said pulley and reciprocating gate and between said pulley and the rocking box; and suitable guideways between the box and the reciprocating hammers, substantially as .described. f

4. In a box or basket machine, the combination of a hammer mechanism for reciprocating the hammer, an inclined way or channel for directing the tacks or nails to the hammer, the lower portion of said inclined way being more steeply inclined and'forming an angle with the upper portion, and a feeding i device for causing the tacks or nails to pass through the lower portion of the inclined way one at a time, that comprises a pair of overlapping pointed picker-fingers, one arranged in advance of the other to single out the tacks or nails, and the other below the angle and thus below the head of the tack, and means for positively moving the iinger pairs, synchronously, in one direction and a means for moving said pairs, synchronously in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a hammer,vrecipro eating substantially in a vertical plane, an inclined channel or way through which the nails or tacks are fed by gravity to the hammer, the end of the channel being immediately adjacent to the traveling hammer, the lower portion of said channel being inclined downward at a sharper angle than is the upper portion thereof, while the mouth portion thereof is provided with an inclined way extending at a suitable angle upward to form a' platform for the lodgment of the tacks, and a cap-piece extending across the said channel or way at its end, which serves as the hammer is being moved past the end of the said channel to engage with the said tack to de-V liver the head thereof in engagement with the back'of the hammer-bar, and allow said tackhead to be moved to the striking end of said hammer, substantially as described.

6. The'combination of a reciprocating magnetic hammer, a channel or way for the nails or tacks terminating adjacent to one face of the hammer, said hammer being guided to pass the'end of the channel in contact with the forward tack therein and operating by magnetism to draw the tack from said channel, and ak cap-piece of non-magnetizable metal covering the said channel or way at its end and which serves as a guide for the tacks in feeding the heads thereof to the hammer ends and forms an inner guide for the traveling hammer, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a reciprocating magnetic hammer, a channel or way for the nails or tacks terminating adjacent to one face of the hammer, said hammer being guided to pass the end of the channel in rcontact with the forward tack therein and operating by magnetism to draw the tack from said channel, and a cap-piece of non-magnetizable metal, having a recessed front face, against which the hammer moves,substantialiy as described.

8. The combination with Va carrying-rod, having a hinged` and swiveled connection at one end, and supported near its opposite end by guide-slot piece, of a presser'iinger mounted on said carrying-rod substantially at right angles, said presser-finger being extended substantially as described.

9. The combination with a revoluble former provided with guide-ears and having a slot for holding the band during the revolving of the form, of a presser-linger adapted to be brought into operative relation thereto dur- ICO IOS

ing the fastening of the lapped end of the band substantially as described.

l0. The combination with a revoluble former provided with guide-ears and having a slot for holding the band during the revolving of the form, of a presser-finger adapted to be brought into operative relation thereto during the fastening of the lapped end of the band,4 and an ejeeting-rod for removing the Vitnesses:

ALICE M. WooD, FRANK J. CONNOLLY. 

